The Ministry of Education has reported instances of fund mismanagement in various schools to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). These cases pertain to schools that received financial support for projects but failed to provide receipts, leading to incomplete or non-existent projects.
Ilisoni Waqa, Principal Education Officer at the Ministry’s Assets and Infrastructure Services, shared that FICAC is currently conducting interviews and gathering documents as part of their investigation. “We have referred cases for audit, and we are assisting them by providing the evidence necessary to support their inquiries and resolve these ongoing issues,” Waqa stated.
When questioned about the specific number of schools involved, he mentioned he would need to check before providing that information and refrained from offering further details about the schools in question.
At Nasoki Village, there was a request for help to finish a double-storey classroom. Waqa confirmed assistance was given, but the school in question did not submit any receipts for the funds used.
He stressed the critical need for the responsible use of government funds and the importance of maintaining proper documentation. “When funds are granted to schools, we expect them to be utilized for their designated purpose. Schools with reliable records are more likely to receive future funding for projects,” he remarked. Waqa also urged schools to maintain comprehensive records of receipts for any project-related funds spent.